Fastelavn

Fastelavn is a vibrant Carnival tradition celebrated in Northern Europe, particularly in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands. Although it has roots in the Roman Catholic Carnival, Fastelavn has developed its own distinct character, especially since Denmark's transition to Protestantism. The festivities occur during the week leading up to Lent, culminating on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. Each Nordic country celebrates in its own way, with variations such as Fettisdagen in Sweden and Öskudagur in Iceland. In Denmark, the day is referred to as Maskadagur.

One of the highlights of Fastelavn is children dressing up in costumes and going door-to-door singing songs to collect treats, similar to Halloween's trick-or-treating. The day is filled with fun activities for children and family games. The term “Fastelavn” originates from Old Danish and Middle Low German, meaning "fast evening" or the day before Lent, with comparable terms found in other Germanic languages.

In Norway, Fastelavn is marked by Carnival processions, masked balls, and events reminiscent of the grand celebrations in 19th-century Paris. A traditional activity called slå katten af tønden, or "hit the cat out of the barrel" involves breaking open a barrel filled with candy. The person who breaks the barrel is crowned the "king of cats" or "queen of cats." Another cherished treat is the Fastelavnsboller, a sweet roll enjoyed in both Denmark and Norway.

Another quaint tradition is the fastelavnsris, where children playfully whip their parents with decorated twigs on Fastelavns Sunday. While large processions are less common in contemporary Denmark, they were once a significant part of the celebration. Unmarried adults would don costumes and visit homes seeking food and money. Coastal communities even had boat processions, where decorated boats were paraded through the streets for charity.